“Culinary Rail Journey To Africa’s Cape Winelands”
All Aboard! Vintage Rails & Vineyards – Journey of Luxury and Discovery
New AFS small group South Africa June 25 – July 4, 2025
All aboard! Join us as we ride the rails in 5-star luxury experience across South Africa for a journey that harkens back to the Golden Age of rail travel. I think it’s one of our most unique AFS escapes ever. Our all-new African expedition is a next-level experience, traversing stunning wild landscapes while enjoying the romance of timeless elegance aboard a vintage train known for world-class culinary offerings. Old-world glamour meets curiosity as our route explores some of the lost iconic locations of South Africa’s interior. Then it’s on to the incomparable Cape Winelands to indulge ourselves further amid verdant vineyards where we taste exquisite wines and prized dishes.
This 8-day panoramic journey gives a perfect illustration of South Africa, “a world in one country.” From Pretoria, we travel through the grasslands of the rich Highveld to the haunting barrenness of the Great Karoo. Our route includes historic villages where time stands still, Hex River Valley and a visit to Matjiesfontein, an authentically preserved Victorian village founded in 1890. Another stop is Kimberley to visit the famous diamond mine museum and the world’s largest man-made excavation, The Big Hole. We trundle on through spectacular mountain range ranges and tunnels to the scenic Winelands of the Cape, all in the spirit of a bygone era.
Come channel the Orient Express Africa style with our exclusive tribe of just 22 AFSers. You’ll be spoiled by your dedicated butler, who is 
available at all times with breakfast made to order. Lunch and dinners are 4-course meals with the finest wines. We start in Johannesburg for a rest, but our real journey begins in lovely Pretoria onboard Rovos Rail, voted one of the most luxurious trains in the world! Our journey’s end is in glorious Cape Town, the” Mother City, cradled by breathtaking Table Mountain. And there’s so much more fun to be had along the way!
Want the most unique way to explore the Winelands? Our AFS group will hop in sidecars and be chauffeured in vintage motorbikes through the famous vineyards of Stellenbosch and Franschhoek. We visit the talented “Pigcasso” – at an art farm sanctuary like no other, then on to Babylonstoren, the oldest Cape Dutch farm, voted as among the top 10 gardens of the world.
The highlight is Vergenoegd Wine Estate, a haven to awaken your senses. It’s my favorite place to stay in all of South Africa and I can’t wait to return. This Dutch Homestead, dating back to 1773, has been producing the finest wines for over three centuries. You’ll love this award-winning estate where history, heritage, and harmony converge, a beautiful property surrounded by the ocean, birdsong, and endless vineyards. The joy bomb here are the ducks. Each day, we can waddle along with their iconic Indian runner ducks, which play a vital role in pest control in their sustainable farming. Our first-class estate has 3 restaurants under the direction of renowned chef Bertus Basson, a luxury spa, elegant accommodations in Vineyard suites and of course, wine tastings.
We wrap it all up with an opportunity to visit Cheetah Outreach for an educational tour with rescued cheetahs. We end with time in the adventure capital of Cape Town with cable cars up famous Table Mountain, city tour, a unique Township dinner show you’ll never forget and a gazillion options to play in this fabulous city
Air is easy from the USA. June is winter and the best time to explore these stunning regions for your perfect summer escape. Come along as we ride the rails to a South African Adventure and culinary experience like no other!
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Our Glorious AFS Itinerary
Tap for a printable PDF Itinerary
June 25 – Fly USA overnight to Johannesburg.
Air is easy round trip to JNB. Details coming and trip tips. You may have visited South Africa before, but not in such a Style!
26 June – Welcome to South Africa, a world in one country!
Welcome to Jo-Burg! South Africa itself is one of the most culturally and geographically diverse places on earth; South Africa, fondly known by locals as the ‘Rainbow Nation,’ boasts 11 official languages, and its inhabitants are influenced by a fascinating mix of cultures.
We suggest staying at Sunrock Guest House – our tried and tested home from home little guesthouse where you will be welcomed like family. Those electing to stay at other places need to stay within 8 km proximity of the airport and advise their hotel location so we can arrange collection on Day 1 of the trip. Should the Sunrock be full, don’t fret, there are hundreds of places to stay in and around the Jo’burg airport. Simple Google JNB HOTELS FREE SHUTTLE. Please note pick up times will be from 7am onwards.
Overnight: Sunrock Guesthouse (1 night)
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Sunrock Guesthouse is a charming and welcoming accommodation located in Kempton Park, South Africa, just a short drive from Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport. The guesthouse offers comfortable rooms, a lush garden, and a sparkling swimming pool for guests to enjoy. With a warm and friendly atmosphere, Sunrock Guesthouse provides a convenient and relaxing stay for travelers passing through or exploring the vibrant city of Johannesburg. The guesthouse also offers airport shuttle services, making it a convenient choice for those in need of a place to stay near the airport. |
27 June – All Aboard! Rovos Rail! B L D
LAND BEGINS – This morning, we’ll take about an hour drive north to Pretoria’s Rovos Rail Capitol Park Station where the magnificent and completely refurbished Rovos Rail awaits. We’ll arrive early to enjoy the onsite museum before we settle in for three days on one of the most luxurious trains in the world. Our iron horse chariot pulls out around 10am. We head out through the goldfields of the Witwatersrand and the broad grassland plains of the Highveld. We may want to freshen up in our suite before joining fellow travelers in the lounge and observation cars to enjoy the stunning scenery. Only 36 suites onboard and it is a privilege to have one! The staff encourages a digital detox to connect with your fellow guests. Explore the vintage wood-paneled dining cars, lounge cars, observation car and gift shop.
Lunch will be served at 1pm in the dining cars, then we spend the afternoon watching the ever-changing landscapes of South Africa’s interior pass us by. Today is a day of enjoying the luxury of our train and the amazing terrain. At 4:30, we’ll be served High Tea.
Dinner is a formal affair (dressy attire, more details later) as we continue our way to Klerksdorp.
Overnight: Aboard Rovos Rail – (3 nights)
Rovos Rail is a luxury train service in South Africa that offers travelers a unique and extravagant way to explore the country. The train is known for its opulent carriages, attentive staff, and gourmet cuisine, providing guests with a truly unforgettable experience. With its old-world charm and modern amenities, Rovos Rail is the perfect way to travel in style and comfort while experiencing the wonders of South Africa. Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or a first-time visitor, a journey on Rovos Rail is sure to leave you with memories that will last a lifetime.
28 June – Kimberley and Diamonds BLD
Breakfast is aboard our train while we travel to Kimberly. Kimberley is well known for the discovery of diamonds that led to 
its establishment in 1871. After lunch we visit the The Big Hole , an awe-inspiring man-made crater, measuring over a quarter mile across and almost 800 feet deep. It was once the largest hand-dug excavation in the world, yielding an estimated 2,722 t
ons of diamonds between 1866 and 1914. The amazing Mine museum offers a trip back in time to when diamonds were first found in South Africa in 1866, near Hopetown in the Northern Cape. Three years later the 83-carat ‘Star of South Africa’ was discovered in the same area, unleashing a frenzied diamond rush seldom seen before or since. We’ll reboard the train in the afternoon before formal dinner is served in the dining cars as we make our way to Matjiesfontein.
We’ll reboard the train in the afternoon before formal dinner is served in the dining cars as we make our way to Matjiesfontein.
The Big Hole is an awe-inspiring man-made. We’ll be back aboard the train for lunch before next visiting the Kimberley Mine Overnight: Aboard Rovos Rail )
29 June – Matjiesfontein BLD
As we enjoy breakfast, our train will be traveling through the Karoo, a vast semi-desert region that was once an enormous inland sea. Over millions of years, volcanic matter was ground down and deposited as silt upon the seabed to form what geologists call the Karoo system.
After lunch, we’ll have the chance to disembark the train at Whitehill Siding and walk into the historic Victorian village of Matjiesfontein. The railway line and station building run parallel to the main street, along which stands an assortment of highly ornate buildings unified by a common wall inset with cast-iron railings and lit at intervals by typical London cast-iron streetlamps. There’s a museum on the platform and a collection of historic cars and railway carriages to the right of the Lord Milner Hotel.
We’ll enjoy teatime as we continue our journey. About an hour after Matjiesfontein, we’ll travel through the first of a series of four tunnels, so be prepared to turn on lights if needed. The first tunnel is more than 8 miles long, so be careful when walking on the train. Dinner this evening is again formal and is served as the train climbs 750m down the escarpment towards Worcester.
Overnight: Aboard Rovos Rail
30 June – Cape Town city tour to the Cape Winelands B D
Welcome to Cape Town. We’ll pull into the city in the morning and be whisked to the top of Table Mountain via cable car. Towering a half mile above the city, the 360-degree views are spectacular. We can take our time and enjoy this unique environment, go for a walk or have a bite to eat at the restaurant with arguably one of the best views possible.
We’ll then be taken on a Cape Town city orientation tour to see what this beautiful city has to offer, including its stunning viewpoints, beaches, Cape Malay culture, and markets. In the afternoon, we take the short drive to the incomparable Vergenoegd Löw Boutique Hotel & Spa on Vergenoegd Löw Wine Estate. We’ll be greeted with a tapas-style menu and wine tasting.
The hotel features bespoke rooms, suites and cottages nestled in vineyards and gardens. Our evening is free to take advantage of treatments in the luxury spa, including massages and facials, or work up a sweat in the adjacent gym or yoga room. There are two on-site restaurants by renowned chef Bertus Basson.
Overnight: Vergenoegd Löw Boutique Hotel & Spa (3 nights) View iBrochure
Vergenoegd Löw Boutique Hotel & Spa is a luxurious retreat nestled in the heart of the Cape Winelands in South Africa. The hotel offers elegant and spacious accommodation, with each room meticulously designed to provide a tranquil and relaxing atmosphere. Guests can indulge in a range of spa treatments, gourmet dining experiences, and wine tastings at the nearby vineyards. With stunning views of the surrounding mountains and vineyards, Vergenoegd Löw Boutique Hotel & Spa is the perfect destination for a getaway and a rejuvenating escape.
1 July Ducks, Motorbikes, Pigasso – Cape Winelands B L D
It’s time to enjoy Wine Country. Resting at the feet of the Boland Mountains in South Africa’s Western Cape Province, the Cape Winelands area is renowned for producing some of the world’s finest wines. And we’ll get to, but the day starts with ducks. Each morning, Vergenoegd releases its famous working flock of hundreds of Indian Runner ducks, which happily forage in the vineyards. They naturally clear the vines of snails and pests.
Then, some large fun – Our very own fleet of chauffeured vintage motorbikes with sidecars will transport us through the Winelands of the legendary Stellenbosch. To make this extra special, we’ll all be suited up in our very cool, retro leather jackets, goggles, helmets, and complimentary bandana. There are so many popping Instagram moments on this trip for you!
Our destination is the famous Babylonstoren farm, one of the oldest Cape Dutch farms in the region and home to one of the top 10 gardens in the world. Set at the foot of Simonsberg in the Franschhoek wine valley, this award-winning farm is famous for its fruit and vegetable garden of beauty and diversity, fine food and wine, and evokes a sense of well-being.
After visiting the garden, we will stop to sample wines in their tasting room and enjoy a delicious platter that compliments the experience.
Next, we head to the beautiful town of Franschhoek to visit Pigcasso, the famous hog artist, at Farm Sanctuary SA. This talented trotter has amazed audiences with her unique painting skills, and visitors can view her art at the onsite OINK Gallery. The farm also hosts many other animals, such as cows with ‘Balloo,’ the farm’s other favorite residents. Visitors are also encouraged to try Pigcasso’s wines, which include the signature Pigcasso Black (Pinot Noir), Pigcasso White (Sauvignon Blanc), Pigcasso Red (Blend) and Rose.
We will have time to wander through the charming town of Franschhoek, with its wine train and wonderful collection of shops, before we travel back to Vergenoegd.
Tonight, we are invited to indulge in an exclusive experience in the Hearth Room within the historic Homestead. The menu is served in a hearty “modern-meets-farm” family-sharing style. The inspiration for Drikus Brink is a modern South African Farm Kitchen combining authentic, family recipes with seasonal, fresh, creative, indigenous produce. The ambiance of the manor house is relaxed and informally elegant, with excellent service and a superb wine selection.
Overnight: Vergenoegd Löw Boutique Hotel & Spa
2 July Free to Play – Cape Winelands or Zip-lining B D
Today is a full day of leisure, either relaxing and enjoying Vergenoed or getting out and exploring. We have a couple of options and we will get a headcount later. Here are our two offerings:
Option 1: Cape Peninsula Full Day Tour
For those who have not been to Cape Town before, you may want to take this full-day Cape Peninsula tour. You travel to the Cape of Good Hope and see the penguins at Boulders along the way. You will experience some of the most spectacular views in the world. The tour begins with a scenic drive along the Atlantic coast, passing through the fishing village of Hout Bay. Here you will have the option of taking a short boat trip to Duiker Island to view the Cape Fur seals. Then head along Chapman’s Peak Drive on to Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve. From there, we travel to False Bay and return to Cape Town by way of the Simon’s Town naval base, where we visit the Penguin colony at Boulders Beach. Travel via Fish Hoek fishing village and Muizenberg to Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens for an optional short walking tour of these beautiful gardens. Return to Cape Town in the late afternoon.
Option 2: Cape Canopy Tours
For the more adventurous, enjoy the Cape Canopy ziplining adventure through the mountains Cape Canopy Tour in the Elgin Valley is located in a World
Heritage Site within Cape Nature’s Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve. It is a system of cables and platforms with breathtaking views that allows guests to explore their limits in a previously inaccessible ecosystem. This bucket list adventure activity consists of an exhilarating 4×4 journey through the nature reserve, then soar through the air on eleven thrilling slides, some over 300m long. Each zipline ends on a platform constructed on the cliffs and fynbos-covered mountain slopes above the Riviersonderend Gorge. A unique suspension bridge constructed between a narrow sandstone ravine above a spectacular double waterfall is guaranteed to be one of the unforgettable highlights of the tour. This is for small exclusive groups of 8 or 9 people with trained guides. Duration 4-5 hours. Past groups loved it.
Evening – All excursions will return in time for our unforgettable Farewell Dinner. Tonight, we will experience dinner in true African style with authentic African cooking done in Mama’s style, with African music and dance at famous Mzansi’s. Look forward to a complete township restaurant experience with live music and delicious food featuring traditional Xhosa meals. The restaurant is located in the oldest Township in Cape Town. It aims to introduce traditional foods to tourists served in a traditional African environment. Enjoy live music, delicious food, and a braai/barbecue of the most unique cuisines.
Overnight: Vergenoegd Löw Boutique Hotel & Spa
3 July – Cheetahs and Cape Town, Playground of SA B
This morning you will visit the Cheetah Outreach program. Their mission is to provide education and awareness about cheetahs and their conservation needs. They offer a great educational tour and also feature a sanctuary that provides a safe space for rescued cheetahs to live and be monitored. From a global estimated 100,000 cheetahs at the turn of the 20th century the population is currently estimated to be 6674. You will get great photos here. Spend some time with their other ambassadors – the caracul, bat eared fox, jackal and serval whilst learning about the cheetah.
Thereafter, you will be transferred to the V&A Waterfront for an afternoon at leisure. Spend the day exploring the many shops, markets and things on offer. The waterfront is always busy, vibey and fun with a mix of people and cultures from all around the world. One of Cape Town’s premier tourist attractions, this is a must see before heading home. Victoria and Albert Waterfront is a vibrant area of many shops, markets, and so many sights! One of Cape Town’s premier tourist attractions, the waterfront is 
always busy and fun with a mix of people and cultures from all around the world.
The V&A Waterfront was originally a harbor before being transformed into a world-class destination. With roots dating back to 1860, it seamlessly blends historical landmarks with modern attractions. Visitors can explore its diverse offerings including delectable dining, captivating museums, and thrilling boat rides, including tours to the infamous Robben Island. Be sure to take the new “Ride the Duck Tour” through the waters of the V&NA waterfront.
Our hotel is the luxurious Commodore, overlooking the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront with views of Table Mountain, Robben Island, the Harbor and the Atlantic Ocean. There is a myriad of restaurants on our doorstep to choose from for dinner.
Overnight: Commodore Hotel (1 Night) View iBrochure
The Commodore Hotel, located next to the V&A Waterfront and a short walk from Cape Town Stadium, offers stunning views of Table Bay and Table Mountain. Its nautically themed rooms feature free Wi-Fi, satellite TV, and private bathrooms. Guests can unwind in the outdoor pool, sauna, and fitness center or book a massage. The partly shaded terrace is a perfect spot to relax with a drink or snack. The Clipper Restaurant serves a breakfast buffet and à la carte menu with seafood and regional wines, and the Admiralty Bar and Lounge offers 24-hour cocktails.
4 July – Back to the US
After breakfast, it’s time to say goodbye to Cape Town and South Africa. We’ll transfer to the airport for our flights back to US (Johannesburg is such an easy gateway to extend your trip onwards to anywhere else in Africa if you like on your own.)
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Land Price $4795 pp twin share. (Based upon 20 participants. Small group cost under 20 add $150.)
(A single room costs $2000 extra due to the train. Very limited).
Includes:
- Road transfer to Rovos Rail
- 3 nights Rovos Rail including all meals, drinks and activities
- Half day Cape Town city tour with Table Mountain cableway
- 3 nights Vergenoegd Wine Estate in Vineyard Cottages including breakfast and dinner
- Full day exploring the winelands including Cape Sidecars adventure, Babylonstoren garden tour with wine tasting and lunch, visit to Pigcasso art
- Visit to Cheetah Outreach program
- All transfers
- 1 night Commodore Hotel in the V&A Waterfront, including breakfast
Deposit $500 Rovos terms requires $1000 by Dec 15. Final payment April 20.
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Includes:
Not included: Gratuities on Rovo’s rail on your own. $95 for Winelands & Cape Town tours will be added to your invoice for ease of distribution. |
Have you read the Trip Tips yet? See the next tab at the top of this page.
Itineraries are prepared up to a year ahead, and things can change. Modifications may be made.
AFS All Aboard! Vintage Rails & Vineyards Trip Tips
Please check back at a later date we are working on these and will notify everyone soon
A bit about Rovos Rail
Imagine yourself aboard a luxurious train, surrounded by the nostalgic charm of a bygone era. The train features accommodation carriages, dining cars with seating for around 42 guests, a lounge car with space for 26, a quaint gift shop, a smoking lounge that seats 11, and an observation car with an open-air balcony and room for 32. Though we’ve maintained the spirit of the past, our suites – Pullman (7sqm), Deluxe (10sqm), and Royal (16sqm) – offer the utmost in privacy and comfort, complete with twin beds and top-of-the-line amenities. Each suite has an en-suite bathroom with a shower, toilet, and basin, along with tea facilities, a safe, air conditioning, linen, and amenities that cater to your every need. The dedicated staff will service your suite daily. You’ll find ample storage space and small cupboards equipped with hangers and shelves. For more information on our public cars and suites.
We warmly welcome solo travelers, couples, and groups alike. Our dining cars are configured with both two-seater and four-seater tables, so you can dine with new friends or enjoy some time for yourself. The lounge and observation cars, with their expansive windows, plush sofas, and cozy booths, are the perfect places to mingle with fellow passengers or find a quiet corner to relax. Learn more about life on board.
Many of our guests enjoy dressing up for dinner, donning fine attire that matches the elegance of our china, glassware, linen, and silver. We encourage smart casual dress during the day and more formal wear in the evening. On longer journeys, we host themed evenings, and you’re welcome to dress accordingly or stick with smart casual attire. Read about our dress code.
Our talented team of chefs takes great pride in catering to your every culinary desire. We emphasize the use of fresh, locally sourced ingredients and specialize in traditional dishes. Savor your meals in the dining car, perfectly paired with a selection of exquisite South African wines. Our bar offers a wide range of options, though we recommend requesting special items like French Champagne in advance. Start your day with breakfast from 07:00-10:00, followed by lunch at 13:00, tea at 16:30, and formal dinner at 19:30. The bar is open from 07:00-±01:00. Please note that meals are served at these times unless otherwise indicated in your itinerary. View our dining schedule.
For more information on life aboard – including amenities, policies for children, accepted currency, excursions, laundry service, luggage restrictions, medical considerations, mobility, and more – please visit our General Info page. You’ll find a detailed list of inclusions and exclusions for each journey on the itineraries page.
How it all began…
As so often happens, it was a combination of influences and events that led to the purchase of the first coach, the start of what would become Rovos Rail. A Wilbur Smith heroine with her own private railway coach, a man called Phil Acutt with a passion for trains and the presence of the Witbank Steam Railway in the coal-mining town where Rohan Vos ran his successful auto spares business all played a part.
“Rohan has always been obsessed with things mechanical,” remembers Anthea Vos, who has been at his side throughout and has raised a family in and around developing the railway business. “In fact, he started his first business with the capital derived from the sale of a 1940 Packard and a 1928 Austin that he had rebuilt. Rohan was involved in so many ventures, but I didn’t see this one coming.”
In 1985, Rohan and Anthea took up a last-minute invitation on a Magaliesberg train trip for business suppliers. “I became a train widow on that day,” says Anthea. “I sat all dressed up by myself; Rohan spent most of the time in the engine with the driver. The irony was that we should have seen then how difficult it would be – the train broke down, and we were bussed back to town.”
The same year, influenced by his friend Phil Acutt’s love of trains and the work done by the Railway Preservation Society in Witbank, Rohan attended an auction to buy a coach or two – the intention was to restore four carriages and hitch them to a South African Railways train as a family caravan. Steam-train enthusiast Geoff Pethick was present at the auction and assisted him. “It was the 26th of September – a cold day with rain in the air – and I’d hoped Rohan wasn’t another penniless lunatic with grand ideas,” he recalls. “As we chatted, I quickly realised that here was a man of vision.”
Several coaches were purchased and taken to the Society’s yards in Witbank to be rebuilt. One of them, Private Saloon 15063, is still in service, and another, an engineer’s caboose, stood at Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront for many years, where it served as the marketing and reservations office. The complications of working with the South African Transport Services administration soon convinced Rohan that he needed to be self-sufficient where possible. As a result, he purchased a 1938 Class 19D locomotive from Lowenthal’s Scrap Metal in Johannesburg. It was rebuilt by Rovos Rail and named BIANCA after one of his daughters.
Negotiations began with Sam Taute of SAR and Rohan was granted permission to run his train in December 1986. This was when the idea of running a vintage train as a business venture was born. The tariff quoted by the authorities for hauling the train was, however, extremely high and would have made the “family caravan” an extravagant exercise.
After his objection to the charge, the Railways returned a well thought-out curve ball, giving Rohan the right to sell tickets. “I remember the occasion very clearly: on a wintry evening, I was subsiding into a hot bath with my Red Heart Rum and coke close at hand. There’d been a power cut, so musing by candlelight about the consequences of turning a hobby into a business, I let my imagination float around in delusions of grandeur. But I knew that launching into the arena of tourism and trains, of which I had no experience, held many dangers. It was an uncharted course and I had little idea where to start, let alone where to aim. However, a unique challenge was right up my street and the decision was made to go ahead. This was – unknown to me at the time – a life-changing moment, and sadly, during the next few years or so, I had many agonizing thoughts of regretting the move. I could never have imagined how all-consuming the business was to become, both financially and emotionally.
“Consisting of a locomotive and seven carriages, the train was launched on 29 April 1989, and with four paying passengers, friends and press, we set off for the Eastern Transvaal. So, with a four-night Lowveld experience and in 1991 the Pretoria to Cape Town run, the business began to find direction. But, as any train operator or airline will confirm, running a schedule is risky and nerve-wracking. To project consistency and reliability to agents and passengers, it’s imperative to run according to the advertised schedule. Of course, this wears rather thin when passenger loads are less than the number required to break even financially. I found, to my horror, that one can lose considerably more money establishing a schedule and, consequently, a reputation than it might cost to buy or construct the hardware.
“To finance this one-way street, I had sold various cash-generating businesses in and around Witbank, mostly to my management partners. Just prior to the train launch, I sold my Witbank and Secunda spare businesses to a public company. I accepted shares for this transaction and these were lodged with the bank as security for the overdraft to finance the train operation. Then, surprise, surprise, the public company went insolvent, and my shares were valueless. My bankers, of course, were not amused.
“So, with the first democratic elections coming in 1994 and confidence in the business future of South Africa tumbling to an all-time low, they put pressure on me to repay the overdraft. Although I was of the opinion that they were well enough secured and that I could service the account, they were not interested and proceeded to summon me for the outstanding amount in late 1993. The operation was close to break-even at this time, but nobody was interested in investing in the business and I had exhausted every possible avenue of financial assistance.
“Visiting the London World Travel Market during this trying time, I met tour operator Philip Morrell, owner of Jules Verne in London. Between us, we hatched a plan to run the train from Cape Town to Victoria Falls. The package was advertised in the Sunday Telegraph during late December and it was with trepidation that I answered the call from him soon after Christmas. To my relief, he reported that sales were going extremely well and nearly four train loads had been booked. My answer, after a suitably stunned silence, was ‘send cash’.
“And so, bankruptcy was avoided by a nose, and to illustrate the turnaround, it was, in fact, a year later that I purchased 38 redundant carriages from the South African Railways. Since then, we have never looked back, although the scars of battle are always there, reminding me never to relax.”
Armed with Les Pivnic’s book on dining cars, Rohan started the search for suitable coaches. An early target was the Jewish Guild Country Club in Johannesburg, where three vandalized and dilapidated dining cars stood as part of an aborted restaurant venture. All three – KEI, NILE and MODDER – were hauled to Witbank and returned to the rails. In the years since then, family life has been inseparable from the business with Rovos Rail growing up alongside the Vos children. Family holidays always had another agenda as they scoured the far ends of the country for coaches and locomotives to add to their collection.
All the engines acquired for Rovos Rail have been named after the Vos children – Brenda, Bianca, Tiffany and Shaun – and nothing could be more appropriate as the family’s history and memories are so tightly interwoven with the Rovos Rail story of acquisition and expansion. On the 10th anniversary of Rovos Rail, the magnificently restored and rebuilt locomotive – 25NC 3484, which had been converted from coal-firing to oil – was christened MARJORIE by Rohan’s mother, Mrs Marjorie Vos.
Before the first commercial trip, Joy Strydom joined Rovos Rail as its first employee in May 1988 and is still with the company. “Rohan called me out of the blue and we met at a Cape Town restaurant with a railway coach bar. Rohan spent most of the time checking it out to see what had been removed and which features remained. The romance of the railway project – and his enthusiasm – had me hooked.”
Through two decades of hard work, trying times, bankers and accountants (who were by turns sympathetic and sceptical), the birth of a new democracy and a tourism surge, there’s been a special magic about Rovos Rail. “Many of us in those early years didn’t believe that Rohan would ever achieve what he’d set out to do,” says Pethick. “It’s wonderful to see that, despite ups and downs, Rovos Rail is doing well and has helped preserve much of our railway history.”
